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The Week Ahead by latimes.com

* 6 p.m.: The members of Vertical Horizon step into the Wherehouse Music Lounge for an interview and performance.

http://www.checkout.com/lounge

Friday

* 7 a.m.: Join "Tennis Talk" during the 2000 U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. Pros Bob Litwin and Kirk Moritz welcome guests, answer your questions and discuss the previous day's matches as well as the day to come.

http://www.usanetwork.com

* 7:15 p.m.: Tune in for the live audio broadcast of the minor league baseball game between the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and the San Bernardino Stampede.

http://sports.broadcastamerica.com

Saturday

* 9 p.m.: View the summer's hottest event, the Burning Man festival in Nevada's Black Rock Desert. You and the 30,000 participants will see the ceremonial torching of the 4-story-high wooden effigy in the night sky.

http://www.popcast.com/events/burningman

Monday

* 7 p.m.: Aspiring film directors and producers may join a chat with Alain Silver and Elizabeth Ward, authors of "The Film Director's Team." They'll discuss cost reporting and scheduling, those eight-martini lunches and schmoozing.

http://www.talkcity.com/calendar/events/event7641.htmpl

Tuesday

* Noon: Travel & Leisure Senior Editor Nathan Lump reveals the world's best islands, as voted by the magazine's readers. Find out the best places to stay and eat as well as the hottest beaches and nightspots.